How to maintain a hot tub filter

Over time, if you’re using a pleated filter as opposed to a disposable one, the pleats in your hot tub filter will start to accumulate dirt and debris. It’s important to clean your filter regularly to ensure the flow of water is not interrupted due to grime buildup and to keep your hot tub running at peak efficiency.

Weekly

With regular usage, you'll want to pull the filter out of your hot tub and rinse it about once a week. There are a couple of different ways to do this, the most popular being using a hose or a filter brush. If using a hose, you will want to make sure to spread apart each pleat and rinse well in between them to ensure you remove all of the debris. A filter brush is the same idea but will clean up to 8 pleats at the same time, which will end up saving you quite a bit of time and water. Always make sure to let your filter dry before placing it back in your hot tub, as this will discourage any microbial growth that may be lingering on the filter.

A common question is if you can use your dishwasher to clean a filter, but it is not recommended. In addition to not cleaning the filter thoroughly, this can also damage the pleats in the filter and you will then have to replace it. The same goes for high-pressure sprayers, which can also damage your filter.

Monthly

About once a month, again depending on how often you use your hot tub, you will want to do a chemical soak to remove any oils, lotions, or dirt that will not come loose with rinsing. This is easily done in 4 simple steps:

1. Rinse your hot tub filter
2. Fill a bucket with up to 5 gallons of water and add your chemical cleaner (read the instructions included with your cleaner for specific amounts)
3. Soak the filter in the mixture for the length of time specified on your cleaner’s instructions (this can be anywhere from 25 minutes to a couple of hours, depending on which chemical cleaner you are using)
4. Rinse your filter again

After it’s been cleaned, let the filter dry and then place it back in your hot tub.

When to Replace

With regular usage and cleaning, you’ll only need to replace your filter about once a year. Sometimes the filter can fail earlier than this if water conditions are not optimal. Here are some signs to watch for:

• Inner portion of the pleats will not come clean, even with a chemical cleaner
• Water flow is restricted
• Pleats become frayed or torn
• Water is not staying clear
• There is a heavy musty or strong smell even after cleaning
• The pleats are separating from the ends of the filter
• Plastic ends are cracked or broken

If you find that you are frequently replacing your filters, have a closer look at your spa conditions to ensure your chemical levels are not harmful to your filter. You can also use something such as a pre-filter to remove any impurities from the water before filling your spa, or a floating scum remover to reduce the dirt and debris going into the filter.

When and how will my order ship?

Orders placed before 10am EST Monday to Friday excluding holidays typically ship same day for items in stock at one of our shipping facilities. Most orders leave the warehouse within 48 hours during business days. If item(s) on your order are back ordered or sold out before your order can be filled, a follow up email will be sent to you. Any orders with Special Order items will ship when the Special Order items arrive at the shipping depot.

Once your order has shipped the tracking information will be included in your Shipping Confirmation email. Please note that it can take up to 48 hours for the shipping company to update online tracking information. We ship using multiple delivery partners including Canada Post Expedited Parcel, UPS, and Purolator. Orders with a PO Box or Rural Route address ship via Canada Post only. Items may be shipped from multiple locations and arrive in separate packages and on different days.

Free Ground Shipping

Free shipping is available on orders of $69 before tax to most locations in Canada, excluding Nunavut, Yukon, Northwest Territories, remote/beyond zones. Pool & Hot Tub Depot will select the most cost-effective carrier for orders eligible for free shipping to your area, typically Canada Post Expedited ground shipping. Alternative shipping options are available at checkout for an additional fee.

$9.00 Flat Rate Standard Ground Shipping

$9.00 Flat rate standard ground shipping is available on orders under $69 before tax to most locations in Canada, excluding Nunavut, Yukon, Northwest Territories, remote/beyond zones. Pool & Hot Tub Depot will choose the most economical carrier for orders under $69 before tax that have paid the $9 flat-rate shipping fee, usually Canada Post Expedited Ground. Other shipping options can be selected at checkout for an extra cost.

UPS Standard Shipping

UPS Standard is a cost-effective, reliable ground shipping option, available for an additional fee at checkout to select areas in Canada that UPS serves. Please note that the transit time for the package is tracked by UPS starting from the day the order is picked up at the warehouse in London, Ontario, not from the day the order is placed online or by phone. UPS delivery business days are Monday to Friday 9am up to 8pm. All Canadian holidays are excluded and do not count as a business day.

UPS Express Shipping

UPS next business day* delivery is available for an additional fee at checkout to select areas in Canada that UPS serves. Please note that the transit time for the package is tracked by UPS starting from the day the order is picked up at the warehouse in London, Ontario, not from the day the order is placed online or by phone. *UPS delivery business days are Monday to Friday 9am up to 8pm. All Canadian holidays are excluded and do not count as a business day.

In-Store Pickup

In-store pickup is available at the London, Ontario location only. You will be notified via email when your order is available for pick-up. Please wait for the email as your order may not be available for pick up earlier. Orders that have not been picked up within 30 days of the order date may be cancelled and refunded to the original method of payment.

Remote and Airstage Locations

As determined by Canada Post and or UPS, areas considered remote, that receive infrequent mail service or where mail must be airlifted are ineligible for free shipping or $9.00 flat rate shipping. Remote areas are listed in Table 9 and the Air Stage Locations list is available here. Shipping costs to any of these areas is calculated by weight and size of the order, please add the desired items to the cart and enter your postal code in the shipping calculator of the shopping cart.

Shipping Outside Canada

Poolandhottubdepot.com only ships within Canada. Unfortunately we are not able to export our products to any other countries.

Cancellations

Should the need arise to cancel an order after it’s been placed, we will do our best to accommodate your request. Please get in touch with our Customer Care team as soon as possible, ways to contact us can be found here. Once your order moves into the awaiting shipment stage in our warehouse, we may no longer be able to cancel it. Should this be the case, we can help facilitate a return upon delivery (excluding final sale items).